How important is it for us to understand the doctrines of our faith? Do we really need to be on guard for heresy making its way into the church? Is Pastor Betters making much ado about nothing?
A friend recently sent me an email about a popular topic of discussion being raised throughout their church’s orientation program for new attendees. During the session, many attendees expressed concern about the idea that Christ is the only way to salvation. It was a tough concept for them to embrace that billions of sincere and unsaved people would not go to heaven if they didn’t place their faith in Christ. The attendees all wanted the benefits of forgiveness through Christ personally but they did not want others to suffer the penalty if they chose another way. This sentiment is growing not only in the hearts and minds of outsiders, but also among some Christians too. Are you sympathetic with this movement?
This is not a new concern. It’s been around since the conversation between Eve and the Serpent. Man has always searched for another way to reach ‘heaven’ (Proverbs 14:12). However, in modern times, the exposure to religions from ever corner of the world has increased dramatically. Evangelical Christians are increasingly confronted for their appalling arrogance and narrow mindedness in asserting that belief in Christ is the only way to heaven. Are we, as Christians, spiritual bigots? How do we engage people who are being drawn to religions that offer a buffet of heavenly paths?
I have three quick thoughts that may be helpful starting points when discussing this issue with people who think this way:
1. Jesus is the one who says there is only one way to heaven. Remind them not to shoot the messenger (you). Their problem(s) are with Jesus. Remain gracious. Don’t give them an excuse to attack you. They must understand that they are rejecting Jesus. It is Jesus that makes this claim, not you (John 14:6, Luke 10:16).
2. Ask them… How many ways should there be to heaven? 2? 100? 101? 1 million? If Jesus didn’t limit salvation to one way, then ultimately someone could argue that all ways should lead to heaven. No one could limit the number of roads to heaven and that would make no sense. What if someone advocated for the ‘Baby Killer Path’ to heaven or the ‘Hitler Highway?’ The problem is that there is no one to judge which ways lead to heaven when allowing more than one way. Who is to say the Baby Killer Path is wrong? We are left with the age old predicament of everyone doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25).
3. Before Jesus, there were zero ways to heaven. Which do they prefer, none or One? One way is better than no way.
Keep the dialogue open and going with your friend. You may be the person that God uses to lead them to the One way to heaven.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Who Knows Who
In business you often hear the saying, "It's not what you know but who you know." The idea is that who you know may be more important for your success than what you know. But it’s not just enough to ‘know’ the person that can help. The person with the power has to also know you.
Who knows you has significance in the spiritual realm too. In Acts 19 we learn how some people were trying to drive out evil spirits by invoking the name of Jesus over a demon-possessed man. An evil spirit answered them and said, "Jesus I know…but who are you?" The possessed man then proceeded to beat those that used the name of Jesus improperly. The demons were able to see in the spiritual realm that the people had no connection or relationship with Jesus.
The same story could be told today. Many people know Jesus but too few are known by Him. People profess His name with their lips but not with their hearts. Many are champions of charitable causes or do wonderful things in the name of Jesus, but without a true connection to Him. This includes many people who are religious. Churchgoers, elders, deacons, and even pastors can know Jesus, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have a relationship with Him. Jesus warned that not everyone who ‘knows’ Him will join Him in heaven. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘…did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me…!’” (Matthew 7:22-23). Can you imagine their surprise? This is very disturbing and plainly it is not enough just to know Jesus. He must know you! There is a critical difference. In fact, according to scripture the demons even ‘believe in’ God (James 2:19) but we know where they will spend eternity.
Pastor Betters stressed in his sermon the importance of having a relationship with God. Do you have a relationship with Him? Is God’s Spirit living inside of you? The Apostle Paul recognized that false assurance and self-deception were potentially hazardous to the church. He instructed the church in Corinth to be on guard. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith…Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”(2 Corinthians 13:15).
How do you recognize that Christ Jesus is in you? Scripture answers, “…those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5). What is your mind set on? What drives you? What does your heart crave? Is Christ the obvious center of you life?
In both the business and spiritual world it’s not who you know but who knows you that really counts. Who knows you in business is important for only a short time. Who knows you spiritually is important for all eternity. Does Jesus know you?
Bill McConomy
Who knows you has significance in the spiritual realm too. In Acts 19 we learn how some people were trying to drive out evil spirits by invoking the name of Jesus over a demon-possessed man. An evil spirit answered them and said, "Jesus I know…but who are you?" The possessed man then proceeded to beat those that used the name of Jesus improperly. The demons were able to see in the spiritual realm that the people had no connection or relationship with Jesus.
The same story could be told today. Many people know Jesus but too few are known by Him. People profess His name with their lips but not with their hearts. Many are champions of charitable causes or do wonderful things in the name of Jesus, but without a true connection to Him. This includes many people who are religious. Churchgoers, elders, deacons, and even pastors can know Jesus, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have a relationship with Him. Jesus warned that not everyone who ‘knows’ Him will join Him in heaven. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘…did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me…!’” (Matthew 7:22-23). Can you imagine their surprise? This is very disturbing and plainly it is not enough just to know Jesus. He must know you! There is a critical difference. In fact, according to scripture the demons even ‘believe in’ God (James 2:19) but we know where they will spend eternity.
Pastor Betters stressed in his sermon the importance of having a relationship with God. Do you have a relationship with Him? Is God’s Spirit living inside of you? The Apostle Paul recognized that false assurance and self-deception were potentially hazardous to the church. He instructed the church in Corinth to be on guard. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith…Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”(2 Corinthians 13:15).
How do you recognize that Christ Jesus is in you? Scripture answers, “…those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5). What is your mind set on? What drives you? What does your heart crave? Is Christ the obvious center of you life?
In both the business and spiritual world it’s not who you know but who knows you that really counts. Who knows you in business is important for only a short time. Who knows you spiritually is important for all eternity. Does Jesus know you?
Bill McConomy
Friday, April 9, 2010
Still Small Voice
Do the deaf hear the voice of God? How does someone who has never heard the human voice, or for that matter any sound, ‘hear’ the voice of God? People who are physically deaf are no less spiritual than hearing people. They can still ‘hear’ the voice of God in spite of their physical limitation. But how does the voice of God come to a deaf person?
How a deaf person hears the voice of God is no different than describing how a person with normal hearing hears God’s voice. Pastor Betters talked about how Elijah heard the ‘still small voice’ of God when he ran from Jezebel and hid in a cave. He illustrated how sometimes God’s voice is firm and corrective like the Haitian stranger who calmed the terrified adopted Haitian child on a flight to her new home. Pastor Betters also recounted how the voice of God came to comfort and steady the martyrs of the faith when facing death for His name sake.
Do you know what the voice of God sounds like? Can you recognize and hear the still small voice of God in your life? Being able to hear the voice of God is absolutely critical in the life of a Christian. But many Christians fail to recognize and hear His voice.
God’s voice has come to me strongly on a few occasions over the years but mostly His voice comes to me in a faint whisper. But I didn’t always hear God’s voice. I had to learn to hear Him. A short time after I became a Christian, I ‘accidentally’ discovered His voice. His voice came to me while I was praying. Imagine that? God talking to me when I’m trying to pray! In fact, every time I have since prayed this certain prayer, I have heard Him answer either immediately or sometime during the same day. It was through this prayer that I began to recognize the sound of His voice and hear Him speaking to me. This is how I began to train my ear and my heart to hear Him.
The prayer that opens the channel from my heart to God’s is simply: “Dear Father, How have I sinned against you?” Immediately following this prayer I will usually hear in my spirit a few words. Sometimes a picture illustrating the sin will also flash across my mind. His voice is so gentle (Matthew 12:20) and He never condemns (Romans 8:1).
This prayer is not a magical formula. Hearing the voice of God is about relationship. Confession of sin is critical to open the communication with God and spending time reading His Word is both the tuner and volume to His voice.
Hearing God is about being ready to listen for Him as your spirit walks through every moment of each day. Are you prepared? Is His word continuously flowing through your mind? Have you confessed your sin? Impaired or healthy, this is how the spiritually deaf come to hear the voice of God.
How a deaf person hears the voice of God is no different than describing how a person with normal hearing hears God’s voice. Pastor Betters talked about how Elijah heard the ‘still small voice’ of God when he ran from Jezebel and hid in a cave. He illustrated how sometimes God’s voice is firm and corrective like the Haitian stranger who calmed the terrified adopted Haitian child on a flight to her new home. Pastor Betters also recounted how the voice of God came to comfort and steady the martyrs of the faith when facing death for His name sake.
Do you know what the voice of God sounds like? Can you recognize and hear the still small voice of God in your life? Being able to hear the voice of God is absolutely critical in the life of a Christian. But many Christians fail to recognize and hear His voice.
God’s voice has come to me strongly on a few occasions over the years but mostly His voice comes to me in a faint whisper. But I didn’t always hear God’s voice. I had to learn to hear Him. A short time after I became a Christian, I ‘accidentally’ discovered His voice. His voice came to me while I was praying. Imagine that? God talking to me when I’m trying to pray! In fact, every time I have since prayed this certain prayer, I have heard Him answer either immediately or sometime during the same day. It was through this prayer that I began to recognize the sound of His voice and hear Him speaking to me. This is how I began to train my ear and my heart to hear Him.
The prayer that opens the channel from my heart to God’s is simply: “Dear Father, How have I sinned against you?” Immediately following this prayer I will usually hear in my spirit a few words. Sometimes a picture illustrating the sin will also flash across my mind. His voice is so gentle (Matthew 12:20) and He never condemns (Romans 8:1).
This prayer is not a magical formula. Hearing the voice of God is about relationship. Confession of sin is critical to open the communication with God and spending time reading His Word is both the tuner and volume to His voice.
Hearing God is about being ready to listen for Him as your spirit walks through every moment of each day. Are you prepared? Is His word continuously flowing through your mind? Have you confessed your sin? Impaired or healthy, this is how the spiritually deaf come to hear the voice of God.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Context For Destruction
How stubborn are you? Will your stubbornness get you killed? Pastor Better talked about the martyrs of the faith and how ultimately their lives boiled down to their refusal or stubbornness to recant their loyalty to Christ. Their stubbornness was based on their refusal to yield to men. Submission to God was more important than conceding to man. Death under these circumstances was to their honor and to God’s glory.
What does my stubbornness yield? Would it bring glory to God? My defiance could get me killed but it wouldn’t glorify Him. Regretfully my stubbornness is most notably marked by my refusal to submit to God not man. I elevate myself and my way above God’s. This is pride and every sin can be traced back to this root.
Last week I wrote how God may create a context of failure in our lives in order to direct us. This is the ‘nice’ side of God’s context of failure that He can use to stop us from making the wrong decision in seeking His will. But God can also orchestrate a context for failure in our lives when we continue to sin, make unwise choices, reject counsel given, or to resist going in the direction where God is leading. God in His mercy gives us ‘wake-up calls’ to snap us out of our stupor of pride. God uses different levels of dire circumstances in the context of failure to rebuke us. This is how He corrects the naïve and the fool. I believe everyone can relate to a time in their lives that they have felt God’s context of failure when they have been naïve or played the fool.
But what happens when we fail to respond as we should to God’s context of failure? Does God just give up or look the other way? No! God will not be mocked. This individual in scripture is actually referred to as a mocker. “A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise (Proverbs 15:2).” He will not consult the wise because he has already determined to follow his own way. At this point, God creates a context for their destruction.
King David when confronted with his sin of adultery and murder repented. King Hezekiah is another example of one who responded rightly to the context of failure that God designed. But there are other kings such as Asa, Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah who did what was right in the sight of the Lord only to suffer under God’s context for destruction later in their lives due to their stubbornness.
We can see from the life of Job that not every bad thing that happens in our lives is a result of God building a context of failure or destruction for sin. We must carefully examine the circumstances of our lives and determine what God is trying to reveal. We will all die someday. But don’t let your stubbornness to God be the match that lights the fire.
Bill McConomy
What does my stubbornness yield? Would it bring glory to God? My defiance could get me killed but it wouldn’t glorify Him. Regretfully my stubbornness is most notably marked by my refusal to submit to God not man. I elevate myself and my way above God’s. This is pride and every sin can be traced back to this root.
Last week I wrote how God may create a context of failure in our lives in order to direct us. This is the ‘nice’ side of God’s context of failure that He can use to stop us from making the wrong decision in seeking His will. But God can also orchestrate a context for failure in our lives when we continue to sin, make unwise choices, reject counsel given, or to resist going in the direction where God is leading. God in His mercy gives us ‘wake-up calls’ to snap us out of our stupor of pride. God uses different levels of dire circumstances in the context of failure to rebuke us. This is how He corrects the naïve and the fool. I believe everyone can relate to a time in their lives that they have felt God’s context of failure when they have been naïve or played the fool.
But what happens when we fail to respond as we should to God’s context of failure? Does God just give up or look the other way? No! God will not be mocked. This individual in scripture is actually referred to as a mocker. “A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise (Proverbs 15:2).” He will not consult the wise because he has already determined to follow his own way. At this point, God creates a context for their destruction.
King David when confronted with his sin of adultery and murder repented. King Hezekiah is another example of one who responded rightly to the context of failure that God designed. But there are other kings such as Asa, Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah who did what was right in the sight of the Lord only to suffer under God’s context for destruction later in their lives due to their stubbornness.
We can see from the life of Job that not every bad thing that happens in our lives is a result of God building a context of failure or destruction for sin. We must carefully examine the circumstances of our lives and determine what God is trying to reveal. We will all die someday. But don’t let your stubbornness to God be the match that lights the fire.
Bill McConomy
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Context For Failure
Headlines—Rush Limbaugh Hopes Obama Fails. That sounds pretty harsh and negative. Could the headlines be any worse? What if the front page of every newspaper declared: God Wants [your name] to Fail. Now that would really be extremely harsh and cruel. But can it be true? Does God ever want you to fail? What’s true about all headlines is that you must keep reading to hear the rest of the story.
Pastor Betters talked about how God creates a context of failure in our lives and society. The state of our nation and its moral decline is not too difficult to trace. The path to ruin in the lives of sports figures and other celebrities is even predictable based on their life choices. The truth below the headline that he was expressing is that anything that sets itself up against God is doomed to failure. When we try to satisfy our hearts outside the will of God, fulfillment escapes us. But this is not some sort of passive process on God’s part. God actually builds and superintends a context of failure around our lives that will point us and lead us in one direction – up to Him.
The difficulty for me, however, is when the context of failure comes when pursuing ‘Godly’ things. Often I don’t want to look too deeply when failure or disappointment occurs in my life. Why would God purposely want to stop me or allow me to fail? King David wanted to build a temple for God’s holy name. The prophet Nathan even gave the idea his full endorsement only to find out directly from God that He didn’t want David to be the one to build it. God gave David tremendous zeal to build the temple. David just didn’t understand his role.
The same thing may happen in our own lives. A person may want to start a children’s ministry, a couple may want to adopt, or a church may want to start a drug intervention ministry but somehow things just don’t seem to move forward. These things are great things. But what if it is not in God’s time, or if in the wrong location, or done for the wrong motive? God has a reason. Sometimes I’m so busy for God that I fail to see what He really wants. I plead with God, “Please tell me your will and I’ll do it!” The problem is that I sometimes approach God as if He is just an Information Center and I’m His robot. God is not interested in me accomplishing His ‘list’ as much as He is interested in relationship. It is in this context of failure that my heart becomes fertile to receive His wisdom and direction through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I no longer walk beside God but it is God who does the walking in me. It is in this way that God keeps me from all the negative press and He grabs all the headlines.
Bill McConomy
Pastor Betters talked about how God creates a context of failure in our lives and society. The state of our nation and its moral decline is not too difficult to trace. The path to ruin in the lives of sports figures and other celebrities is even predictable based on their life choices. The truth below the headline that he was expressing is that anything that sets itself up against God is doomed to failure. When we try to satisfy our hearts outside the will of God, fulfillment escapes us. But this is not some sort of passive process on God’s part. God actually builds and superintends a context of failure around our lives that will point us and lead us in one direction – up to Him.
The difficulty for me, however, is when the context of failure comes when pursuing ‘Godly’ things. Often I don’t want to look too deeply when failure or disappointment occurs in my life. Why would God purposely want to stop me or allow me to fail? King David wanted to build a temple for God’s holy name. The prophet Nathan even gave the idea his full endorsement only to find out directly from God that He didn’t want David to be the one to build it. God gave David tremendous zeal to build the temple. David just didn’t understand his role.
The same thing may happen in our own lives. A person may want to start a children’s ministry, a couple may want to adopt, or a church may want to start a drug intervention ministry but somehow things just don’t seem to move forward. These things are great things. But what if it is not in God’s time, or if in the wrong location, or done for the wrong motive? God has a reason. Sometimes I’m so busy for God that I fail to see what He really wants. I plead with God, “Please tell me your will and I’ll do it!” The problem is that I sometimes approach God as if He is just an Information Center and I’m His robot. God is not interested in me accomplishing His ‘list’ as much as He is interested in relationship. It is in this context of failure that my heart becomes fertile to receive His wisdom and direction through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I no longer walk beside God but it is God who does the walking in me. It is in this way that God keeps me from all the negative press and He grabs all the headlines.
Bill McConomy
His Story II
Pastor Betters pointed out in his last sermon how the Book of Acts ended rather abruptly. He suggested that the ‘unfinished’ ending seemed to represent how the Acts of the Holy Spirit are still unfolding and being written into our lives. Our lives and the men and women of faith before us represent the next chapters of His Story.
Do you recognize His Story in your life? How would the chapters of His Story read in your life? I asked myself these questions and noticed a pattern. I’m afraid that the following chapter has been repeated too many times in my life:
Chapter 25: Bill went to church, heard a good sermon, sang songs, gave God some glory, went home and waited for next Sunday.
Pretty boring, huh? Don’t get me wrong. I believe God can be glorified in the mundane but the chapter summarized above wouldn’t make the Editor’s cut for His Story? Where is the ‘Go’ of the Gospel in my life? Does someone have to read between the lines or use their imagination to see His Story and His glory in my life? Or worse, does God?
The life of a Christian shouldn’t read that way. It should read more like a novel of action, suspense, or adventure—not a tragedy. Sadly, what is missing from some of the chapters of my life is the part where I take risks for Christ. How has God called me and how have I followed?
That's the problem for me and for many like me. It’s easy to hear God’s calling to us as husbands or wives and fathers and mothers and many other ‘standard’ aspects of the Christian life. But how is God calling us in taking greater risks for Him? Some people may be waiting for God to speak to someone else and just follow that call for their own lives. That may be helpful in casting a corporate vision but each of us must hear and follow what God is saying to us personally.
As Pastor Dan preached a few weeks ago, God’s calling has to be radical. But being ‘radical for Christ’ must mean more than just being different. Jesus calls us to live outside the norm in a much greater sense. Being radical for Christ must involve personal risk. The word 'radical' has somehow watered down the original Biblical words of ‘dying’ and ‘living sacrifice.’ Jesus never intended for that to happen. Jesus’ call is very clear. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
This language is radical but it is also deadly! How is Jesus calling you to die? The verses above represent the plot that the Holy Spirit wants to use to write His Story into your life. It is that story which will make for irresistible reading and He promises that it will never be boring.
Bill McConomy
Do you recognize His Story in your life? How would the chapters of His Story read in your life? I asked myself these questions and noticed a pattern. I’m afraid that the following chapter has been repeated too many times in my life:
Chapter 25: Bill went to church, heard a good sermon, sang songs, gave God some glory, went home and waited for next Sunday.
Pretty boring, huh? Don’t get me wrong. I believe God can be glorified in the mundane but the chapter summarized above wouldn’t make the Editor’s cut for His Story? Where is the ‘Go’ of the Gospel in my life? Does someone have to read between the lines or use their imagination to see His Story and His glory in my life? Or worse, does God?
The life of a Christian shouldn’t read that way. It should read more like a novel of action, suspense, or adventure—not a tragedy. Sadly, what is missing from some of the chapters of my life is the part where I take risks for Christ. How has God called me and how have I followed?
That's the problem for me and for many like me. It’s easy to hear God’s calling to us as husbands or wives and fathers and mothers and many other ‘standard’ aspects of the Christian life. But how is God calling us in taking greater risks for Him? Some people may be waiting for God to speak to someone else and just follow that call for their own lives. That may be helpful in casting a corporate vision but each of us must hear and follow what God is saying to us personally.
As Pastor Dan preached a few weeks ago, God’s calling has to be radical. But being ‘radical for Christ’ must mean more than just being different. Jesus calls us to live outside the norm in a much greater sense. Being radical for Christ must involve personal risk. The word 'radical' has somehow watered down the original Biblical words of ‘dying’ and ‘living sacrifice.’ Jesus never intended for that to happen. Jesus’ call is very clear. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
This language is radical but it is also deadly! How is Jesus calling you to die? The verses above represent the plot that the Holy Spirit wants to use to write His Story into your life. It is that story which will make for irresistible reading and He promises that it will never be boring.
Bill McConomy
His Story
Pastor Betters mentioned the adage that all of history is His-Story. We all love a great story. We live in a world surrounded by stories. We feed our love for a good story through TV with sitcoms, dramas, news, and even sports. Sports? Yes, every sporting event tells a story of sorts about teams or individuals in their quest for victory. Also, we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of our passion for stories if we don’t mention the written form of our desire such as books, magazines, blogs, and newspapers.
We have this insatiable desire for a story. God created us to communicate, relate, and share. We do a great deal of that through stories of some sort. Would it be such a broad stretch to say that God designed us as story beings? Is the story something we can live without? A story would not be ranked too high according to Maslow’s assessment of man’s most important needs: air, water, food etc.
However God’s word, His story, is elevated to a class all by itself among stories and man’s needs. God elevates the importance of His word to the same physical level as food and drink. Jesus, in His own words, says, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). And God’s word is more than just provision for physical life. It is our only sustenance in spiritual life. Our spiritual lives depend on this Word “…that became flesh and dwelt among us.” God’s Story comes off the pages and lives within us. This kind of story needs more than all of our senses and 3-D glasses to perceive.
If God’s word is God’s story and His glory through His Son Jesus, then why is it sometimes like dry toast to me… or worse diet popcorn? Why is it that I would sometimes rather turn on the TV than open God’s Word? Maybe this is more of a statement about the reader (me) than the Writer.
I believe this happens when I approach His word as just words on a page. I approach His word looking for information or insight instead of relationship… or worse I’m reading because Christians are supposed to.
God’s word does not have to come alive. I do!
Do you ever feel this way? Do you ever approach God’s word as a ‘religious’ chore or duty? Join me in asking God to give us fresh eyes to trace His hand and see His glory in the lives of the heroes and fathers of our faith. But let’s not just be satisfied with seeking His glory of the past. Let’s ask Him to help us to see His Spirit and glory moving and working around and through our lives today. Let’s beg Him to use us in His Story as if it were the very air, water, and food of our souls.
Bill McConomy
We have this insatiable desire for a story. God created us to communicate, relate, and share. We do a great deal of that through stories of some sort. Would it be such a broad stretch to say that God designed us as story beings? Is the story something we can live without? A story would not be ranked too high according to Maslow’s assessment of man’s most important needs: air, water, food etc.
However God’s word, His story, is elevated to a class all by itself among stories and man’s needs. God elevates the importance of His word to the same physical level as food and drink. Jesus, in His own words, says, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). And God’s word is more than just provision for physical life. It is our only sustenance in spiritual life. Our spiritual lives depend on this Word “…that became flesh and dwelt among us.” God’s Story comes off the pages and lives within us. This kind of story needs more than all of our senses and 3-D glasses to perceive.
If God’s word is God’s story and His glory through His Son Jesus, then why is it sometimes like dry toast to me… or worse diet popcorn? Why is it that I would sometimes rather turn on the TV than open God’s Word? Maybe this is more of a statement about the reader (me) than the Writer.
I believe this happens when I approach His word as just words on a page. I approach His word looking for information or insight instead of relationship… or worse I’m reading because Christians are supposed to.
God’s word does not have to come alive. I do!
Do you ever feel this way? Do you ever approach God’s word as a ‘religious’ chore or duty? Join me in asking God to give us fresh eyes to trace His hand and see His glory in the lives of the heroes and fathers of our faith. But let’s not just be satisfied with seeking His glory of the past. Let’s ask Him to help us to see His Spirit and glory moving and working around and through our lives today. Let’s beg Him to use us in His Story as if it were the very air, water, and food of our souls.
Bill McConomy
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